Story perspectives

Navy Reservists Load 302 Cargo Pieces for Antarctic Mission

1/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Navy reservists from the Military Sealift Command Pacific’s Expeditionary Port Unit oversaw loading 302 cargo pieces onto Plantijngracht at Port Hueneme.
The operation supports Operation Deep Freeze 2026, a National Science Foundation mission to resupply McMurdo Station.
The load includes construction materials and a 65-ton Modular Causeway System.
Plantijngracht departs January 8 for about 8,040 nautical miles to Antarctica, where Navy Cargo Handling Battalion ONE will manage the offload.

History

Historical Context

Operation Deep Freeze began in 1955, establishing a U.S. presence in Antarctica for scientific research, with Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6) conducting vital logistical operations. The National Science Foundation invested $50 million in infrastructure, including McMurdo Station. This ongoing commitment highlights the military's role in Antarctic exploration, essential for understanding climate change and global ecosystems.

1 of 2

Story summary

Navy reservists from the Military Sealift Command Pacific’s Expeditionary Port Unit oversaw loading 302 cargo pieces onto Plantijngracht at Port Hueneme.
The operation supports Operation Deep Freeze 2026, a National Science Foundation mission to resupply McMurdo Station.
The load includes construction materials and a 65-ton Modular Causeway System.
Plantijngracht departs January 8 for about 8,040 nautical miles to Antarctica, where Navy Cargo Handling Battalion ONE will manage the offload.

1 / 2